Means for filling shoe-bottom cavities



Aug. l1, 1931. A. THoMA 1,818,827

MEANS FOR FILLING SHOE BOTTOM CAVITIES Filed Aug. lO, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. ll, 1931. A. 'rl-IOMA 1,818,827

MEANS FOR FILLING SHOE BOTTOM CAVITIES Filed Aug; lo, 1927 s sheets-sheet 2 A-ug. 1l, 1931. A. THoMA 1,818,827

l MEANS'FOR FILLING SHOE BOTTOM CAVITIES Filed Aug. 10, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 fw Y Jy @m w21/m2,

'McKay yfact that the cavity in the -w'elt shoe is much Patented Aug. 11, 1931 -UNITED STATES PATENn OFFICE.

` l ANDREW THOMA, OF CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NORTH AMERICAN CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS A CORPORATION 0F MASSA- CHUSETTS MEANS .'FOR FILLING SHOE-BOTTOM CAVITIES Application led August 10, 1927. Serial No. 212;018.

This invention pertains to the manufacture of shoes andl more particularly to means for and a method of filling shoebottom cavities the method, however, not being claimed in this application. In my copending application Serial No. 183,302,

filed April 13, 1927, I have described a novel shoe filler material in sheet form comprising av layer of sticky, plastic and waterproof filler compound rotected and reinforced in such a manner, or example by interposing it between paper-like skins, as to make it self-sustaining, coherent and capable of being handled substantially like ordinary sheet 210,558, filed August 4, `1927, I have described a desirable mode of procedure in lling shoes by means of such filler leaves.

In accordance with the disclosure of the two last-named applications I employ a filler leaf placed centrally of the shoe bottom and, after attaching the outer sole, subject the shoe to a leveling process which causesthe filler leaf to spread laterally so that the plastic filler layer fills all interstices and recessesn of the shoe bottom. This is' a highly desirable mode of procedure, particularly in dealing with shoes of -the McKay type where the Vcavity is shallow and 'does not vary greatly in depth at different parts, although the above Inode of applying filler material is valso useful in filling welt shoes. However, since the cavity of a welt shoe is relatively deep ascomparedwith that of a and? particularly lby reason ofthe deeper adjacent totheinseam and at the toe i than at the center of ,the shoebottomitis fcavity.'3':- 8 In accordance: WltliftheI :present lnvn-tlon evident Lthat the application of-a filler leaf of uniform thicknesstogthe center of aywelt she .bottom `necessitatesj'very substantial distortion of s the "leaf Tandy displacement Lof its constituentzmaterials' incr-der vpro erly to Iillthe. deep marginal portions the rom such sheet filler ma-` terial, and in my application Serial No.I

leaf outwardly7 toward such deep marginal portions of the cavity since I preferablyl substitute for the filler leaf of my prior applications an elongate strip of filler which is laid in the deepest part of the cavity folp lowing the contour of the inseam and when the shoe thus filled is leveled, the bulk of the filler material is not greatly distorted and just suiicient of the material flows inwardly to ill the relatively shallow middle part of the cavity. In its broader aspects my presentinvention includes the applica tion of a relatively narrow strip of filler material to the shoe-bottom cavity in any desired manner preferably marginally and without reference to the specific physical characteristics or composition of the filler material composing the strip but in its preferred form I prepare this filler strip from sheeted filler material, such 'for example as disclosed in my copending application Serial .No. 183,302, above 'referred to, and spread the same cold preferably by pressure, butnot to exclude other methods, as by the old hot roll;

This filler strip, prepared from my sheeted material and in its preferred embodiment, is of ribbon-like form and-usually of uniform width, the width being varied in accordance with the style and size of shoe'to which lit is to be applied. Preferably this strip is scored or slashed along onenedge (either its inner or outer edge asreferred to the shoe) to permit' it kto follow the curved contour of the cavity.` )Where thecavityis y deepest (i. e. at the toe) "the overlapping' of the filler strip, as' it 'makes thesh'arpb'eil'dat the'toe provides the additional filler materiali f `for filling this tip portion of the' cavity#- v If desired the strip is beveled (wedgeshaped or triangular in section) so as towdispose thel greatest thickness'of filler-@mate 'al close to .the inseam where thec'avity maximum depth, 'and preferabl' fthe A"strip I' .a reel or'other suitable support, an

manner analogous to that set forth in my copending application Serial No. 183,302, the adhesive surface for attaching the strip to the shoe bottom may be provided by tearing olf or otherwise removing the protective skin from one side of the strip, thus leaving the adhesive layer exposed for direct application to the shoe bottom.

Sheet filler material of the general type disclosed in my application Serial No. 183,- 302 is readily made in various thicknesses and in making my present filler strip I select such a thickness of material as is best adapted to meet the particular requirements' of the shoe in which the strip is to be used. Thus, when a Gem inner sole is used it may be desirable to employ athicker strip than with other types of inner soles. Moreover, when the inner sole is noticeably convex or crowning, as in a leather welt inner sole, I prefer to employ a strip of wedgeshaped section, as above referred to.

The filler strip may be supplied in lengths just suiicient for fillin a single shoe or in longer lengths from which sufficient material may be severed as used. I preferably lay the strip progressively along the margin of the cavity beginning, for example, at the heel and following the edge of the cavity along one side, around the toe and then back toward the heel along the other side of the cavity, although other modes of laying the filler strip fall within the scope of the present invention. The strip may extend around the entire margin of the cavity as suggested or along 'such fractional portion thereof as may be desired. I also contemplate thatgenerally equivalent results may be'obtained (although robably with less economy of material y cutting out substantially U-shape pieces of the sheeted filler and applying such pieces to the marginal portion of the cavity and such pieces are to be considered as falling within the term iller v strip as here emp yed.V

While I may apply the ller strip to the shoe wholly by hand I prefer to provide certain instrumentalities to assistin the application of the stri to the shoe. Thus1 I preferably provide t e filler in the form of a coil, mounting this coil of ller stri upon draw off the strip from the ree and ass it in contact with a roll or other device' or applying adhesive to one side of the strip. If the strip is of the spreadable type, it is now pressed into contactwith the surface of the inner sole of the shoe by means of a suitable roller or other guiding and compressing element adapted to lay the filler strip smoothly against the surface of the shot bottom as the shoe is moved relativel roller. The shoe and roller ymay e given the proper relative motion by mechanical means, although ordinarily I find that the to the.

operator may hold the shoe in his hands and guide it beneath the roller without diliculty.

,In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my novel form of shoe filler, together with certain steps in the process of making and applying it, with the understanding that these illustrations areby way of example only and are not intended to restrict or define the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section, to large scale, illustrating a preferred form ofv my sheeted filler material;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a strip cut from such sheeted ller material;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in perspective, showing a strip such as that of Fig. 27 but provided with slashes or incisions along one edge;

Fig. 4. is a perspective view showing a modified form of strip in which'the slashes are shown as notches;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3 showing a strip of uniform thickness from side to side;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 5, but showing a strip of a wedge-shape section, truncated at its inner end;

Fig. 7 is a similar view but showing a strip of triangular transverse section;

Fig. 8 is a plan view illustratingthe appearance of the bottom of a welt shoe prior to filling;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a welt shoe bottom after the application of my improved' filler strip thereto;

Fig. 10 is a section on the `line 10,-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 isa view similar to Fig. 9 but illustrating a modified arrangement of the filler strip in the cavity;

scale, showing a ywelt shoe with its' outer sole in position and indicating the appearance of the filler material after the leveling operation;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic-side elevation illustrating a preferred mode of applying my filler strip to the shoe;

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a horizontal section substantially on the line V1515 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is an endelevation of apparatus useful in forming the slits or slashes in the ed e of the ller strip;

ig. 17 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 16; A

, Fig. 18 is a front elevation of modified apparatus usefulin cutting sheeted material for producing my improved filler strip; Fig. 1S? is a diagrammatic view illustratmvmodiied forms of my filler strip; and 1g. 20 1s a diagrammatic or plan view 60 avistrpv-may #be employedwithout'further preparation if; desiredinrtilllng.` the-f shoef v-bottom cavity-.ww

of a further modification, showing a piece 0f punched-out, multi-prong or finger-like shape.

It will be understood'thatv the drawings are largely dia rammatic in form, with no attempt to con orm accurately to the working details, shape and proportions of a shoe.

Referring to Fig. 1, the sheet material which I yprefer to employ in making my filler strip consists of a layer 15 of permanently sticky, plastic shoe filler compound which may be of any of the kinds disclosed in my prior patents, for example Patent N o. 855,868, dated June 4, 1907, and which are typically characterized by the presence of a semi-Huid binder, such for example as the sticky residuum of petroleum known as Wax tailings intermingled with a comminuted solid, such for example as ground cork. This sticky layer, as fully disclosed i-n my application Serial N o. 183,302, is protected and reinforced so that the composite sheet becomes self-sustaining, `shape-retaining and coherent by interposing the layer 15 Vbetween outer sln'ns 11 and 14. These skins may be of any suitable material having the desired characteristics, although I prefer to employ paper-like webs for enclosing and protecting the layer 15. Preferably the outer surfaces ofthe webs or skins 11-and 14 are dusted or coated as indicated at T with a non-adhesive andr preferably slippery substance, for example, as powdered talc, soapstone or the like.

The sheeted material thus produced is coherent, and may be handled in substantially the same Way as ordinary sheet materials, but when incorporated in a shoe bottom itv is capable of flowing or spreading at normal temperature when subjected to shoe-leveling` pressure, all as more fully described in my copending applications, above referred to.

, spread in any direction.

- ,contemplate that it may be prepared as the finalstepl -inf the process o f'making the sheetmaterialmay be stripsqas itzfis de apparatus.v "As 2 .thus prepared the strip 70 y In accordance with my present invention I take this sheeted material and cut it up by suitable means into elongate and relatively narrow stripsl 7() (Fig. 2). Each of these strips possesses the peculiar characteristics of theoriginal sheet material, being self-sustaining and coherent, and yet plastic when -subjected to pressure so that it lcan This strip filler may bemade of any desired length and I ed material, that visjto say, ,that the sheeted lividedl into these 4narrow ivered from f the l sheeting isof substantially. uniform. thickness from' edge to edge, as,y indicated lin Fig. 5,1and such However, I- prefer,` the v f series of slashes or incisions 71 extending inwardly from one edge 7 2 of the strip (see Fig. 3).- These slashes 71 may 'extend inwardly as far as desired but do not extend entirely across the strip, the edge 73 being continuous and entire. By thus slashing one edge of the strip, it is possible to bend the strip quite sharply edgewise in its own plane since the incisions or slashes will open up readily as shown at 7111 (Fig. 3), permitting a very substantial elongation of the edge 72 relatively to the edge 7 3. This is of assistance in laying the strip along the curved margin of the shoe-bottom cavity.

While the slashes or incisions 71 are usually suiiicient, I contemplate that I may provide notches 74, as shown in Fig. 4, in place further process before applying it tothe shoe. The result of this further process 1s illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In Fig. 6 the strip 7()b has been compressed at its edge 73 so as to make it thinner than at its opposite edge, while in Fig. 7 the strip 70c has been compressed at its edge 72, leaving its edge 73 of full thickness. Inthus compressing the strip to make one edge thinnerl than the other, I find that the material tends to flow so that the thicker edge of the strip may ultimately have a thickness greater than that ofthe original strip.

Referring to Fig. 8, I show the appear-` ance of the bottom of a welt shoe of usual construction before filling and prior toV application of the outer sole. This shoe W has the inner sole 74 provided'J with the marginal channel 75 forming theattaching lip 7 6. The inner edge 77 of the welt strip and the edge portion 78 of the combined lining and outer element of the upper are secured to the lip 76 byy means of the inseam stitches 79.

The outer portion of the welt is indicated atv 80 and a shank piece 81. The channellip 76 defines the margin., of the shoe-bottom cavity, and the free edge of this lip, usually 1, formed' as two `lips Aconstituting the stitchrib-,'together withythe edge portions of the lining, upper and; welt are-com1nonlyre ferred to as the between substance. v

the shoe bottom' afterthe .application-.fof my tion 'of the* welt. at 8Ov and thebetween--substance at 182. The ,filler strip '70?'. is laid along the marginaof `fthe: shoe-bottom lcavity Reifeiafirig to Figa` 9 andflO, I have indi vcated diagralnamtically.theal appearancef-ofl improved '.illerfstripj; In theseviews the against the inner edge of the between substance 82, with the slashed edge 72 of the strip against the between substance.

In passing around the sharper curvatures of the margin of the cavity, the slashes in the edge of the filler strip may open as indicated at 71a, but in laying the filler strip around the toe portion of the cavity the curvature is so sharp that a portion 85 of the filler strip overlaps another portion 86, thus providing an abnormal amount of the filler materialat this point. Since the toe portion of the cavity is deeper than any other part, this abnormal amount of liller material thus provided is advantageous and facilitates the production of a level surface for engagement with the outer sole. As

shown in this'view, the slashed edge 72 of the filler strip 70" is outermost, the unslashed edge 78 being directed toward the central part of the cavity, and if the filler strip 7()b is'wedge-shape in section, as shown in Fig. 6, the thicker edge 72 which is also the slashed edge, is disposed at the deeper part of the cavity.

In Fig. 11 I have shown a different mode of applying the strip, using the iiller strip 7 0c of Fig. 7 in which the slashed and thinner edge 72 is arranged at the inside and thev unslashed thicker edge 73 engages the between substance. As thus arranged, the slashes permit portions of the edge of the strip to ride up one on another, thus permitting the strip to follow the curved contour of the cavity. If a strip having notches, such as 74, be used and arranged as shown in Fig. 11, the bending of the pliable strip closes the notches 74 so that the stripmay lie smooth against the surface of the inner sole.

After the strip has been laid in the shoebottom cavity, the outer sole 87 (Fig. 12) is attached in usual manner by means of stiches 88 to the outer part of the welt 80. The sole is now subjected to leveling pressure and the opposite portions 7 0x and 7 6 of the ller strip which lie in the deep marginal portions of the cavity are compressed .and spread. In doing so the plast1c filler layerflows toward the center of the cavity and the filler material from the oppositely positioned strips meets at 89, thus completely fillin the cavity, but since the major part of the er material is originally disposed at the deepestparts of the cavity there is comparatively little movement of the material, so that thev usual leveling pressure employed in the' manufacture of welt shoes is suicient for the purpose.

In Figs. 16 and 17 I have illustrated apparatus for forming the slits or slashes in the edge of the strip of material. Thus, I a pair of rollers 90 and 91, one of such ro ers Being provided with radial blades 92, these rollers being driven in any suitable manner so as to feed the strip between them. rAs the strip passes between the rolls the blades 92 pass through the strip, forming the desired slashes or incisions, the length of the blades 92 being so chosen as to provide slits or slashes of desired depth.

The slashed strip, after passing through. the apparatus of Figs. 16 and 17, is now preferably woundto form a coil and this coil may be mounted upon a 'reel or drum 93 carried by a shaft 94. From this reel the material is pulled off and passed between rollers 94 and 95. One of these rollers, for example the roller 95, is supplied with suitable adhesive, as by contact with a roller 96 partially immersed in a body of adhesive in a receptacle 97. If it be desired to compress the strip so as to make one edge thicker than the other, this may be readily accomplished at this point in the operation by making the roller 94 conical, as shown in Fig. 15. lWhether or not the strip is thus compressed, it now passes down beneath an applicator roll 98. This applicator roll may be carried in any suitable support and if desired may bev caused to be rotated continuously by power. This roll 98 is so arranged that the operator may present the bottom of a shoe to the roll in proper position 'to permit the roll to press the strip. of filler material against the inner sole of the shoe. Thus, as shown in Fig. 14, the eX- treme end of the strip has been attached to vthe inner sole 74 of the shoe W (at the eX- treme rear end of the-shoe cavity). Preferably the end of the strip is attached to the sole by means of its adhesive surface as provided by the roll 95. IThe shoe is now moved relatively to the roll`98 so as to cause the roll to press the strip against the inner sole and to cause the strip progressively to engage the inner sole and to follow the contour of the cavity. The shoe is moved in this manner until the toe is reached, whereupon the shoe is turned through nearly 180, causing the strip to overlap. at the toe portion of the cavity and then the operation is "continued, laying the strip progresslvely along the opposite edge of the cavity until the heel is reached. It is obvious that 1f only the forepart of the cavityis to be filled, theend Vof thestrip may first be applied. at or about the shank and then-progressively laid along the edge of the cavity as above described. While I prefer to apply adhesive to one' side of the strip before placlnf the strip in the shoe bottom, I may,

'1f referred, strip oif from one side of the strip the protective coating or skin, and to facilitate this operation I may pass the strip over a heated surface which loosens the connectlon between the protective skin and the layer of plastic filler material and at the samel time increases the stickiness of the binder so thatwhen the exposed surface 'of pered by immersion or subjection to vapor,

hot or cold, other tempering agencies suchl as water, volatile fluids or the like, as disclosed in my application Serial No. 210,558

. and in the copending application Serial No.

Aroll 102 having a series of conical 212,352, of A'. H. Avery, filed August 11, 1927. Also, especially when one of the cover strips is omitted, a latent adhesive, such as starch or any of those mentioned in the applications noted herein may be embodied in the article. lOther means and structures may be employed, as already disclosed and claimed in the other copending applications.

While the mechanism just described is useful in applying the adhesive and in laying the strip against the bottom of the shoe,

it is obvious that the entire operation might be carried out by hand if preferred.

In Fig. 18 I have illustrated mechanism for cutting up` the sheet material into strips and at the same time compressing` these strips tov make them thicker at one edge than at the other. This apparatus comprises a cylindrical roll 101 and a second ortions with cutter blades 103 interposed etween the small end of one portion rand the large end of the next.4 Further, if ldesired, the cylindrical roll 101 may be provided with knifeblades 92a adapted to form the slits or incisions at one edge of the stri By passing the sheet material throug this apparatus it may be reduced to the final form for application to the shoe bottom without further treatment other than to provide the adhesive surface.

While I prefer to employ the material in the form of straight strips, such as shown in Fig. 2, I contemplate that the material may be cut up into pieces of substantially U-shape, as shown at 70m in Fig. 19 r in curved sections 70, Fig'. 19, of less extent or in various other strip-like forms, such for example as the punched out piece 70", Fig. 20, where a tongue 7 0 extends centrally of the U-shaped part which correspondsto "v of Fig. 19 and may have notches 71 and 71. This. is one example of a multi-tongue or finger-like shape. Such curved or unched out pieces are laid in the cavity o a shoe bottom the same as before against the edge of the cavity or stitch rib, requiring little bending and fitting, thus filling lthe dee portions of the cavity, but though this mo e of filling is within the broad scope o my invention, I prefer to employ the straight 35 strip filler slnce it involves less waste of toms, special bottoms or other s ecial styles -or makes of shoes. Further a vantage resides in requiring less pressure.

VVhlle I have hereinabove described certam steps as constituting m process, I wish vit to be understood that I o not limit myself to these particular steps or to the recise order in which they have been descri d, y.

but that other steps may be substituted for some of those here mentioned and that the order of steps may be varied as circumstances may require, Furthermore, while I have illustrated apparatus useful in repar- 1ng my improved strip and in app ying it to a shoe bottom, I wish it to be understood that a wide variety of apparatus, method, and article embodiments come within the spirit and scope of my invention;

I claim:

1. A shoe-filler piece adaptedfor tillin a shoe bottom cavity comprising 'spreada le filler material of the kind containin comminuted solids mixed with a sticky inder, made in the form of a plastic strip as distinct from a sheet-like plece, having a width adapted when the strip is placed along the margin of the shoe bottom cavity tocover less than the area of the shoe bottom cavity.

2. A spreadable shoe-filler piece adapted for filling a shoe bottom cavit comprising spreadable filler material of t ekind containingv comminuted solids mixed with a' sticky binder, made in the form of a plastic strip as distinct from a sheet-like piece, having a width adapted Whenlthe strip is placed` along the mar in of the shoe bottom cavity to cover -less t an the area of the shoe bottom cavity, and having capacity to spread laterally thinner in one direction and thicker in another direction.

3. A shoe-filler piece comprising spreadable filler material of the kind containing comminuted solids mixed with a sticky y' binder in the form of a stri as distinct from `a sheet-like piece, at east part of which is spreadable, having a width adapted when the strip is placed along the margin vof the shoe bottom cavity to cover less than ing sufficiently pliant shoe bottom cavity comprising spreadable in the shoe bottom, toward the center ofthe 1 shoe bottom under vertical pressure.

5. A shoe-filler piece adapted for filling a shoe bottom cavity com rising spreadable filler material ofthe kin containing comminuted solids mixed with a sticky binder,

made in the form of a strip, as distinct from a sheet-like piece, having a width adapted when the strip is placed along the margin of the shoe bottom cavity to cover less thanthe area of the shoe bottom cavity, and having a spreadable area, one portion of which is movable inwardly toward the center of the shoe bottom and another portion o f which is movable in a different directionwhen in the shoe-bottom cavity and subjected to pressure. v

6. A-ribbon-like shoe-ller strip, comprising a layer of flexible, sticky, waterproof material and a supporting web secured permanently together, said strip being normally firm and stable but capable of conforming to the requirements of a shoe-bottom cavity.

7 A Vribbon-like shoe-ller strip capable of spreading at normal temperature when subjected to shoe-leveling pressure, said strip having slippery outer surfaces and beto permit it to bend in laying it in a shoe-bottom cavity.

8. A vribbon-like shoe-filler strip capable of spreading at normal temperature when subjected to shoe-leveling pressure, said strip having normally dry and slippery outer surfaces and being adapted to be llaid along the margin of a shoe-bottom cavity.

9. An elongate shoe-filler strip at least part of which is spreadable, having transverse incisions in one edge to facilitate bending, said strip being adapted'to be'laid in and conformed to a shoe-bottom cavity.

'10. An elongate shoe-filler stri at least part of which is spreadable, o substantially uniform width having spaced notchesv in one edge to facilitate bending the strip in its own plane, said stri being adapted to be laid in and conforme to a shoe-bottom cavity.

11. A ribbon-like shoe-filler strip at least part of which is spreadable, thicker at one edge than at the other, the thicker ed e being provided with spaced incisions to acilitate bending the strip, said strip being adapted to be laid ina shoe-bottom cavity with its thicker edge adjacent to and following the inner margin of the4 cavity.

12. A ribbon-like shoe filler strip comprising a layer of sticky plastic material interposed between protective skins, said strip being thicker at one edge than the other.

13. A shoe filler piece having a width adapted when the strip is placed along the margin of the shoe bottom cavity to cover less than the area of the shoe bottom cavity,

in the form of a plastic strip having at least one supporting or protective skin or cover- 14. A spreadable shoe filler piece comprising spreadable filler material of the kind containing comminuted solidsl mixed with a sticky binder and having a width adapted when the strip is placed along the margin of the shoe bottom cavity to cover less than the area of the shoe bottom cavity, shaped and .constructed to spread unevenly under leveling pressure.

15. An elongate plastic shoe filler strip adapted for filling a shoe bottom cavity comprising spreadable iller material of the kind containing comminuted solids mixed with a sticky binder, having a width adapted when .the strip is placed along the margin of the shoe bottom cavity to cover less than. the area of the shoe bottom'cavity, adapted .to

be laid and spread along the marginal por- Y tion of a shoe bottom cavity.

16. An elongate plastic shoe filler strip adapted for lling a shoe bottom cavity comprising spreadable filler material of the kind containing comminuted solids mixed with a sticky binder, having a width adapted when the strip is placed along the margin of the shoe bottom cavity to cover less than the area of the shoe bottom cavity, of sub-, stantially uniform width and of sulicientiexibility to permit it to be laid in a shoebottom cavity following the curved marginal contour of said cavity.

17. A ribbon-like shoe filler strip adapted for filling a shoe bottom cavity comprising spreadable ller material of the kind containing comminuted solids mixed with a sticky binder, having a width adapted when the strip is placed along the margin of the shoe bottom cavity to cover less than the area of the shoe bottom cavity, said strip being flexible, moldable and coherent for shipping and handling.

,18. An elongate shoe ller strip for extending along the marginal'portion of the cavity of a shoe bottom, having a width adapted when the strip is placed along the margin of the shoe bottom cavity to cover less than the area of the shoe bottom cavity, said strip comprising spreadable filler material of the kind containing comminuted solids mixed with a sticky binder and being capable of limited shifting under leveling pressure to conform to irregularities of depth and contour of a shoe-bottom cavity.

19. A ribbon-like shoe filler strip adapted for filling a shoe bottom cavity comprising shoe bottom cavity to cover less than the area of the-shoe bottom cavity, adapted to retain its shape at normal temperature and capable of spreading under pressure.

20. vA liant ribbon-like shoe filler strip ,adapted or filling a shoe bottom cavity comprising spreadable filler material of the kind containing comminuted solids mixed with a sticky binder, having av width adapted when the strip is placed along the margin of the shoe bottom cavity to cover less than the area of thev shoe bottom cavity, of self-sustaining form and coherent characteristic capable when laid along the margin of a shoe-bottom cavity of spreading when subjected to leveling pressure.

21. An elongate relatively narrow shoe filler strip adapted for filling a shoebottom v cavity comprising spreadable .liller material of the kind containing comminuted solids mixed with asticky binder, having a width adapted when the stripzis placed along the margin of the shoe bottom cavity to cover less than the area ofthe shoe bottom cavity, leaving the central portion of the cavity` empty, said strip being plastic and capable of spreading under leveling pressure to fill the central part of the cavity.

22. A ribbon-like shoe filler strip having a width adapted when the strip is placed along the margin of the shoe bottom cavity to cover less than the area of the shoe bottom cavity, comprising a layer of normally plastic, compressible, and adhesive filler material of the kind containing comminuted solids mixed with a sticky binder. 1;

23. A ribbon-like shoe filler strip of laminated material which is flexible, waterproof, moldable, and coherent for shipping and handling, one lamina consisting of spreadable shoe 'filler material and another lamina constituting a reinforcement, said strip being adapted to, lie in the marginal portion of a shoe-bottom cavity and follow the contour of said cavity and having a width to cover less than the area of the shoe bottom 24. An elongate shoe filler strip comprising a layer of normally plastic and adhesive shoe filler material and means at one side at least ofsaid layer f or reinforcing it, said strip being pliant and adapted to be laid in a shoe-bottom cavity following the margin of the cavity.

25. A ribbon-like shoe filler strip comprising thin outside skins and an intermediate layer of plastic shoe-bottom iiller, said strip being adapted to `conform to the marginal contour of a shoe-bottom cavity.

26. A ribbon-like shoe filler strip comprising thin outside skins and an intermediate said strip being pliant at normal tempera- 'layer of granular sticky shoe-bottom filler, I

ture and capable of being bent to conform to the contour of a shoe-bottom cavity.

27. A ribbon-like shoe filler strip comprising thin protecting layers and an intermediate layer of sticky material, said strip bein'g adapted to be laid in the marginal portion of a shoe-bottom cavity and being capable of being molded at normal temperature when subjected to pressure.

28. A ribbon-like shoe filler strip comprising relatively inextensible outer skins and an interposed layer of filler material capable of exuding frombetween said skins when subjected to shoe-leveling pressure, said strip being pliant at normal temperature jand adapted to be laid along the margin of a shoe-bottom cavity.

' 29. A ribbon-like shoe filler strip comprising a layer vof ground cork or equivalent comminuted material united by a waterproof, sticky, waxy binder, and enveloping webs of paper secured to opposite sides, respectively, of said layer, the strip -being pliant and capable of beingV laid along the margin of a shoe-bottom cavity.

30. A ribbon-like shoe ller strip of multi-layer construction comprising at 4least one layer forming a reinforcing skin, another layer of moldable sticky bottom ller, and l 83. In combination with a shoe having a bottom cavity, a filler piece in the form of a plastic strip of spreadable ller material of the kind containing comminuted solids mixed with a stickybinder placed within the cavity along its margin, said strip normally having a width adapted to cover less than the area of the shoe bottom cavity.

= 34. A shoe filler piece comprising spreadable filler material of the kind containing comminuted solids mixed with a sticky binder and having a U-sha-ped formation approximating the contour of a shoe bottom cavity, the arms of the U-shaped piece having a width adapted when the piece is placed in the shoe bottom cavity with the arms of thev U vadjacent the margin of the cavity to cover less than the area of the shoe bottom cavity.

35. A shoe filler piece as defined in claim 34 further characterized by having an integral tongue extending into the space between the arms of the U. y

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 9th day of August, 1927.

ANDREW THOMA. 

